Tasty bites added to free Mt. Airy concerts

by GAIL COHEN

Weavers Way Co-op has joined in supporting the East Mount Airy tradition of free evening concerts at the Mount Airy Train Station. Walk a Crooked Mile Books, located in the train station at Gowen and Devon Streets on the R7 line, is the largest used bookstore in the area, with seven rooms of out-of-print books.

Greg Williams, the owner of the store, “loves the neighborhood” and began the concert series four years ago as a way of serving the community, and it has grown to a full schedule of once-a-week concerts in the beautiful natural amphitheater. Over the years, there have been well over 20 different performers who have volunteered their services at the concerts, ranging from gospel to jazz and from classical music to folk singers.

The audience brings out the best of Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill and has become a great venue for seeing old friends and making new acquaintances as folks bring their lawn chairs or sit on the grass, enjoy the music and often eat a picnic.

What was missing was good picnic fare, but Glenn Bergman, the manager of Weavers Way and a neighbor of the bookstore, thinks the Co-op can fill that need and make new friends for the Co-op at the same time. On Sunday, June 27, the Co-op inaugurated its food service for the concerts with a table loaded with fruit, chips, homemade cookies and spritzers.

Weavers Way Co-op representatives helped concertgoers learn more about and possibly join the Co-op. Co-op members who brought the picnic fare and then manned the table all found it a delightful way to serve their Co-op hours as they enjoyed the music.

Everyone is invited to come join the fun. All concerts are 7 - 9 p.m. The concert schedule through mid-August is:

Tuesday, July 20, Larry Thomasson, folk singer and songwriter;

Thursday, July 29, Mira Dale, a contemporary singer-songwriter;

Sunday, August 8, Art Miron and friends doing classics of all genres;

Thursday, August 12, Kenny Sykes, saxophonist and singer;

Thursday, August 19, Olio, a favorite children’s music group.

The concert series will continue into the fall. Greg Williams is always looking for new performers. To inquire or check on upcoming concerts or rain dates for cancelled concerts, call him at 215-242-0854.

Walk a Crooked Mile Books invites you to come visit the shop at non-concert times, too. They are open 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon., Wed., Fri.; 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tues. and Thurs.; and Sat., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Also you are invited to exhibit or shop at another tradition, the Umpteenth Mount Airy Train Station yard sale, on Saturday, July 17 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Call to reserve a spot.